The blood clot may block the passage of blood through a brain artery, depriving nearby tissue of oxygen and nutrients. The result is a stroke.
Reviewed last on: 9/16/2008
Daniel B. Hoch, PhD, MD, Assistant Professor of Neurology, Harvard Medical School, Department of Neurology, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc.